Pelt or case form



March 14, 1944. J. J. FITZGERALD 2,343,968

PELT OR CASE FORM Filed Nov. 25, 1942 allow; 6

Patented Mar. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES PELT R CASE FORM JohnJ. Fitzgerald, Cheyenne,,Wyo.

Application November 25, Serial No..466,902 3 Claims. (Otis- 24) This invention relates to an adjustable pelt or case form, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character on which a pelt or case may be easily and quickly arranged and which will properly shape and prevent the pelt or case from shrinking without unduly subjecting the pelt or case to stretching action during the drying thereof.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation, illustrating an adjustable pelt or case form constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the pelt or case form consists primarily of a frame 5 and a sustaining means 6 therefor. The frame 5 is made from a single length of manually bendable metallic stock and includes rod-like members 1 and a substantially V-shaped connecting portion 8 which may be employed to facilitate the insertion of the frame in a pelt or case. The free ends of the members 'I are bent at right angles and arranged in opposed relation to form stops 9 to prevent the sustaining means from accidentally moving off the frame. The stock of the frame is manually bendable in order that the frame may be shaped to fit pelts varying in size and for pelts wherein the front and rear quarters thereof vary in size from each other. For instance, the members I may be bent toward and from each other adjacent to their formation with the connecting portion 8 to compensate for the difference in size of the front quarter of the pelt to the rear quarter. The sustaining means 6 is employed for maintaining the members "i at a desired distance apart after they have been made to fit a pelt having known measurements.

The sustaining means 6 include substantially rectangular shaped plates Ill and i I. The plate I0 is bent to form guide flanges l2 at opposite longitudinal edges thereof to slidably receive the plate II. One end of the plate I0 is rolled or (bent upon itself to form a barrel l3, having the free end of the material of the plate arranged under the flanges 12'. The barrel I 3 slid-ably receives one of the members'l-with a frictional fit and has'formedthereon'a tine I4. One end of the plate I! is bent or rolled upon itself to form a barrel .151, which slidably receives with a frictional fit the other member 1 of the frame. A tine I! is formed on the barrel I5.

Ears iii are formed on the plate II and are bent over the edges thereof to overlie the free bent end of said plate II for maintaining said end in the barrel shape.

The plate H1 is apertured and the plate II has a slot l9, said aperture of the plate l0 and slot I9 receive a bolt [8 having a wing nut 20 threaded thereon providing a releasable securing means between the plates Ill and II whereby they may be adjusted endwise of each other for the purpose of permitting the members 1 to be moved toward and from each other for the adjustment of the frame as above specified.

To use the present invention, a pelt is selected and the measurements as to its front and rear quarters are determined. The members 1 of the frame 5, with the wing nut backed partly off the bolt, are then bent to approximately fit the known measurements of the pelt and said frame is then inserted into the pelt from the rear end thereof using the connecting portion 8 to facilitate the insertion of the frame in the pelt. The front legs of the pelt are arranged at one side of the frame and the tines l4 and I! are inserted through the rear legs. The sustaining means 6 is then slid on the members 1 toward the stops 9 to bring about a desired tautness of the pelt on the frame and the wing nut is tightened on the bolt securing the sustaining means so that the members 7 of the frame 5 will be maintained a proper distance apart for the pelt on the frame so that during the curing of the pelt it will be kept from shrinking and be free from strain from undue stretching effect thereon.

The sustaining means 6 is held from sliding accidentally on the members 1 by frictional engagement therewith. Whenever the friction needs to be increased, due to wear or otherwise, the barrels l3 and. 15 may be pinched with pliers or a similar tool. It is preferable to pinch the barrel l3 by applying the tool on the ends of the flanges l2 adjacent to said barrel l3 and to pinch the barrel I5 by applying the tool to the ears l6 and plate II which lie close to said barrel IS. The pinching or contracting of the barrels I 3 and I5 is made while the barrels are on the members I.

From the foregoing description, taken in con.

nection with the drawing, it will be seen that a very efficient, durable and compact form has been provided which may have a pelt easily and quickly applied thereon and will shape the pelt without undue stretching thereof during the drying or curing of the pelt. Due to the simplicity in construction of this device, it may be economically manufactured and sold at a low cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of ,my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope V including spaced members and a substantially V- shaped connecting portion integral therewith, said members being bendable toward and from each other, plates slidably engaged with each other and having ends rolled to form barrels slidably receiving the members with frictional fit, guide flanges formed on one of said plates slidably receiving the other plate, and a fastener adjustably connecting said plates, and tines formed on the barrels of said plates.

3. In a pelt or case form, an elongated frame including spaced members and a substantially V- shaped connecting portion integral therewith, said members being bendable toward and from eachother, plates slidably engaged with each other and having ends rolled to form barrels slidably receiving the members with frictional fit,

, guide. flanges formed on one of said plates slid free. ends thereof bent at right angles and arranged in substantially opposed relation to form JOHN J. FITZGERALD. 

